By Felicia Farnsworth
Montgomery singer Trew The Star stepped onto the national stage on February 9 and delivered a performance that earned him a coveted golden ticket to Hollywood on American Idol. The 25-year-old vocalist impressed celebrity judges with his heartfelt rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change This Love,” drawing praise for both his vocal control and emotional delivery.
Submitted by Judge James E. Tatum
Recently, my staff and I, from the Office of the Judge of Probate, attended the annual Association of Alabama Tax Administrators Licensing Conference, where two of our clerks, Sarah Wilkerson and Zakira Parham, were formally recognized for earning their professional certifications.
Submitted by Thawaina King
Dr. Michael O. King, Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University, had a notably productive week, February 2–7, presenting at three major education conferences across the state of Alabama.
By Felicia Farnsworth
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of CTE programs, recognize the dedication of students and staff, and highlight the important role these programs play in preparing students for successful careers. The month-long observance fosters school spirit, builds pride, and strengthens morale while emphasizing the connection between education and workforce readiness.
By Representative Shomari Figures (D-2)
2026 is off to a busy start, and I am proud to have hit the ground running across the 2nd District throughout the month of January.
By Darius L. Cates
On February 3rd, the Hornets Varsity Boys Basketball Team finished their regular season in a dominating win over Goshen High School. Their defense suffocated the Eagles, forcing bad passes and dead-ball turnovers. They even crashed the boards that sparked up numerous fast breaks. The Hornets got the 79-36 win. DeAndre Allen scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds; Devin Davis finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds.
News Release
Montgomery — Scheduled implementation of the new 483 area code overlay that covers the 334 area code region is slated for February 23.
The new area code ensures customers will have enough supply of new telephone numbers to serve the area. Numbering resources for the 334 area code are scheduled to be exhausted by the third quarter of 2026.
This action follows the mandatory 10-digit dialing period, which allowed customers to become accustomed to dialing 10 digits when making calls.
Diamond is now the longest-term resident at the Bullock County Humane Society, having been in the shelter since June 28, 2022, more than three years and seven months, through no fault of her own.
The Eagles athletic program honored its senior Lady Eagles on Tuesday, February 3, during the final home game of the season. Seniors Floridalma Perez Jacinto, Sarah Grace Graham, and Malia Lewis were recognized in a ceremony held between the varsity match-ups. Accompanied by their families, each player received a souvenir basketball and balloons. Coach Tress Graham commended the trio for their dedication to the program over the years, while the home crowd joined in celebrating their contributions to Eagles basketball. Photo submitted by Mona Pritchett.
By Felicia Farnsworth
Judge Rufus C. Huffman, Sr. stands as one of the most influential figures in the modern history of Union Springs and Bullock County. At a time when African Americans were largely excluded from positions of authority in local government, Huffman emerged as a steady, determined leader whose work helped reshape civic life and expand opportunity throughout the community.
